The cannabis plant contains 113 chemical compounds named cannabinoids. Cannabidiol or CDB and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC are cannabinoids derived from cannabis. Cannabis has become very popular because of its health impact and benefits.
This popularity is growing as CBD products have become legal under federal law. THC is legalized in a few states but is still illegal under federal law. Today you can find many products from THC and CBD created to decrease stress levels, anxiety, and insomnia. CBD products can have forms like oils, lotions, candles, creams, and edibles like CBD gummies. CBD gummies are widely used and easy to buy. You can go to https://askgrowers.com/cbd/cbd-gummies to get some of them.
However, if you want to know the side effects and benefits of these cannabinoids, you should understand the difference between CBD and THC.
<h2>What are CBD and THC?<h2>
CBD is the second most prevalent compound in cannabis. Usually, it is derived from hemp. Hemp is the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp must have less than 0,3% of THC. CBD from the marijuana plant might contain more THC. These days CBD is used as a treatment for multiple diseases.
THC is a psychoactive substance in cannabis. THC activates our brains’ reward system and releases the chemical dopamine, which causes euphoria. So it can get you high. It is usually consumed by smoking. However, it can also be used in edibles, capsules, oils, etc.
<h2>CBD and THC’s main differences<h2>
Both CBD and THC come from the same plant, but their chemical structures differ. They affect our organisms differently. That’s why they are treated differently.
<h3>Chemical structure: CBD vs. THC<h3>
CBD and THC both have the same molecular structure that is the same as the human body’s endocannabinoids. They are neurotransmitters that act in the brain.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals responsible for transmitting messages between brain cells and play a role in stress, sleep, pain, appetite, etc.
The difference is the way how the atoms affect your body. The molecules are arranged differently. That’s why the effects are different.
<h3>Psychoactive effect<h3>
CBD and THC don’t have the same psychoactive effects on your organism. CBD doesn’t cause the effect of being high that is often associated with marijuana. On the other hand, THC can get you high and have a well-known psychoactive effect.
<h3>Medical benefits<h3>
Today we can say that THC and CBD have potential health benefits for these conditions:
- Epilepsy
- Anxiety
- Glaucoma
- Pain
- eczema
- psoriasis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sleep difficulties
- Movement disorders
CBD and THC can have the same effects on the human body and treat the same diseases, but you can find some differences. You can use CBD for such conditions like:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Inflammation
- Migraines
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Seizures
THC and marijuana are illegal under federal law. However, it is legal in a few states and can be used to alleviate symptoms. You can use THC as a treatment for:
- Glaucoma
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Pain
- Poor appetite;
- Tremors
<h3>Side effects<h3>
Generally, CBD and THC are safe, but they can still cause some side effects. If they are considered safe, it doesn’t mean there won’t be any effects. Some of them could be:
- Changes in mood
- Changes in appetite
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Red eyes
- Slower reaction times
- Increased heart rate
- Coordination problems
These are the side effects. Neither of them is fatal, but the use of THC might cause long-term psychiatric effects. If a person consumes a large amount of THC, it might be connected with such disorders as schizophrenia.
<h3>Legal status<h3>
You should pay attention to the legality of the products when you want to buy THC or CBD products. Hemp and CBD products became legal in 2018 and were removed from the Controlled substances Act. So CBD is legal under federal law. However, there are some strict regulations, and in some states, it is still considered a drug.
Marijuana and THC aren’t removed from this list and are considered illegal under federal law. However, some states allow recreational and medical use of marijuana and THC products.
The laws related to the use of cannabis are changing fast, and you should always check the laws before buying CBD or THC products.
<h3>Drug testing<h3>
THC is a psychoactive substance in marijuana and can be found on most drug tests. CBD might be detected, but many drug tests are not created to search for CBD.
However, a lot of CBD products contain a small amount of THC. If you consume large amounts of CBD, it can be detected on a drug test.
<h3>Final words<h3>
CBD and THC have some differences, and the main one is the psychoactive effect that has THC. CBD and THC have healthy benefits, but you should always discover the side effects and talk to your doctor before trying them. CBD and THC can help to treat some diseases and improve your conditions, but you should be careful with the doses.
